Sedgley Conservative Club to be hauled before licensing committee over suspected lockdown breach
A Midlands Conservative club is to have its licence reviewed after it was suspected of breaching lockdown regulations.
Police were called to Sedgley Conservative Club on a Saturday night last month following a report that drinkers were congregating at the bar.
Officers found three people inside the Hall Street venue and told them to move on.
West Midlands Police has now referred the matter to Dudley Council’s Licensing Committee to review.
Police chiefs today said that anyone suspected of breaking coronavirus lockdown rules was “undermining the health of the nation”.
All pubs and licensed premises have been closed since March 23, when Boris Johnson placed the country in lockdown in a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19.
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Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for licensing, said: “As with any potential breach of licensing, it will be referred to the licensing committee to be dealt with through the normal licensing channels.”
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, said: “This is disappointing news that will anger the people of the West Midlands who have steadfastly followed the rules in difficult circumstances. This is quite rightly going to be examined by the licensing committee, for what is a serious matter in the present circumstances.
Referred
“The rules were put in place for a reason and people confirmed as breaking those rules are undermining the health of the nation and making the job of the police harder.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We were called to Sedgley Conservative Club on Hall Street, Sedgley, at about 8.15pm on Saturday 2 May after a member of the public suspected a breach of Covid-19 regulations taking place at the location.
“Officers found three people inside the premises and advised them to move on.
“Due to a suspected breach of coronavirus restrictions and licensing objectives, the matter has been referred to Dudley Council’s Licensing Committee to review.” Sedgley Conservative Club declined to comment.
Since the lockdown started a number of pubs, including The Pendulum in Wolverhampton, have lost their licenses after opening and serving alcohol to customers.
The Pendulum, in Blaydon Road, was handed a notice to close pending a full review after being caught by police last month.
Council chiefs branded it “totally unacceptable” and revoked the Pendeford pub’s licence – meaning it will no longer be able to trade.
Councillor Alan Bolshaw, chair of the city’s licensing sub-committee, told a meeting: “Having carefully considered all the evidence presented the committee were emphatic that the behaviour displayed by this premises was totally unacceptable..
Sedgley Conservative Club declined to comment.
